Small-molecule HSP90 inhibitors

ABSTRACT

Hsp90 inhibitors havin are provided havin the formula: (I) with a 2′,4′,5′-substitution pattern on the right-side aryl moiety. X1 represents two substituents, which may be the same or different, disposed in the 4′ and 5′ positions on the aryl group, wherein X1 is selected from halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogenated alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, pyrollyl, optionally substituted aryloxy, alkylamino, dialkylamino, carbamyl, amido, alkylamido dialkylamido, acylamino, alkylsulfonylamido, trihalomethoxy, trihalocarbon, thioalkyl, SO 2 alkyl, COO-alkyl, KH 2 , OH, CN, SO 2 X 5 , NO 2 , NO, C═SR 2  NSO 2 X 5 , C═OR 2 , where X 5  is F, NH2, alkyl or H, and R 2  is alkyl, NH 2 , NH-alkyl or O-alkyl, C 1  to C 6  alkyl or alkoxy; or wherein X 1  has the formula —O—(CH 2 ) n —O—, wherein n is an integer from 0 to 2, preferably 1 or 2, and one of the oxygens is bonded at the 5′-position and the other at the 4′-position of the aryl ring. The compounds are useful in cancer therapy and as radioimaging ligands.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/649,322 filed Feb. 1, 2005, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to adenine derivatives effective as inhibitors of Hsp90, and to the use of such molecules in therapeutic applications. The molecules of the invention have a 2′,4′,5′-substitution patterns on aryl substituted adenine rings. The molecules of the invention are useful in therapeutic application and as radioimaging ligands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is an emerging target in cancer treatment due to its important roles in maintaining transformation and in increasing the survival and growth potential of cancer cells.¹ Hsp90 function is regulated by a pocket in the N-terminal region of the protein that binds and hydrolyzes ATP.^(1a) Occupancy of this pocket by high affinity ligands prevents the dissociation of Hsp90 client proteins from the chaperone complex and as a consequence, the trapped proteins do not achieve their mature functional conformation and are degraded by the proteasome. Protein clients of Hsp90 are mostly kinases, steroid receptors and transcriptional factors involved in driving multistep-malignancy and in addition, mutated oncogenic proteins required for the transformed phenotype.³ Examples include Her2, Raf-1, Akt, Cdk4, cMet, mutant p53, ER, AR, mutant BRaf, Bcr-Abl, Flt-3, Polo-1 kinase, HIF-1 alpha and hTERT.^(1c-e) Degradation of these proteins by Hsp90 inhibitors leads to cell-specific growth arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells in culture, and to tumor growth inhibition or regression in animal models. One such inhibitor, 17-allyl-amino-desmethoxy-geldanamycin (17AAG, FIG. 1A) has entered clinical trials in cancer patients in the US and UK and has shown early evidence of therapeutic activity when administered alone or in combination with docetaxel^(.2) Despite these early promising results, 17AAG has several potential limitations. Most prominent are its limited solubility and cumbersome formulation. It also exhibits dose and schedule dependent liver toxicity believed to be caused by the benzoquinone functionality.^(2a) Radicicol (RD, FIG. 1B) a structurally unrelated natural product, has biological activity similar to that of 17AAG but is not hepatotoxic,³ yet no derivative of this class has made it into clinic.

Making use of the peculiar bent shape of Hsp90 inhibitors and of existent Hsp90 crystal data, purine-scaffold derivatives with Hsp90 inhibitory activities have been designed.⁴ The first synthesized derivative of this class, PU3 (FIG. 1C), bound Hsp90 with moderate affinity and elicited cellular effects that mimic 17AAG addition.⁵ Preliminary efforts focused at improving the potency of this agent have mostly focused on modifying the left side adenine of the scaffold (FIG. 2) and have led to the synthesis of several compounds with improved activity in both biochemical and cellular assays.⁶ One such compound, PU24FCl (FIG. 1D) is a potent and selective inhibitor of tumor Hsp90 and exhibits anti-tumor activities in both in vitro and in vivo models of cancer.⁷ Other purine-scaffold compounds with higher potency over PU24FCl in in vitro models of cancer have subsequently been disclosed.^(8,9) Although a significant number of derivatives has been created by these combined efforts, the nature and position of substituents on the right side aryl moiety (X₁ and X₂ in FIG. 2) has not been sufficiently investigated. (See also, PCT Patent Publications Nos. WO02/36705 and WO03/037860, which are incorporated herein by reference.)

The present invention provides a class of Hsp90 inhibitors with enhanced activity as compared to previously known compounds and a class of inhibitors with differential selectivity and activity for Rb normal versus Rb defective cells

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, Hsp90 inhibitors are provided having the formula:

wherein Y is C, N or O,

R is hydrogen, a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or an alkoxyalkyl group, optionally including heteroatoms such as N or O, or a targeting moiety connected to N9 via a linker,

X₄ is hydrogen or halogen, for example F or Cl, or Br;

X₃ is CH₂, CF₂, S, SO, SO₂, O, NH, or NR², wherein R² is alkyl; and

X₂ is halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogenated alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, pyrollyl, optionally substituted aryloxy, alkylamino, dialkylamino, carbamyl, amido, alkylamido dialkylamido, acylamino, alkylsulfonylamido, trihalomethoxy, trihalocarbon, thioalkyl, SO₂₋alkyl, COO-alkyl, NH₂, OH, CN, SO₂X₅, NO₂, NO, C═S R₂, NSO₂X_(5′), C═OR_(2′)where X₅ is F, NH2, alkyl or H, and R₂ is alkyl, NH₂, NH-alkyl or O-alkyl; and

X₁ represents two substituents, which may be the same or different, disposed in the 4′ and 5′ positions on the aryl group, wherein X₁ is selected from halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogenated alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, pyrollyl, optionally substituted aryloxy, alkylamino, dialkylamino, carbamyl, amido, alkylamido dialkylamido, acylamino, alkylsulfonylamido, trihalomethoxy, trihalocarbon, thioalkyl, SO₂₋alkyl, COO-alkyl, NH₂, OH, CN, SO₂X₅, NO₂, NO, C═SR₂ NSO₂X_(5′), C═OR₂, where X₅ is F, NH2, alkyl or H, and R₂ is alkyl, NH₂, NH-alkyl or O-alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkyl or alkoxy; or wherein X₁ has the formula —O—(CH₂)_(n)—O—, wherein n is an integer from 0 to 2, and one of the oxygens is bonded at the 5′-position and the other at the 4′-position of the aryl ring.

The Hsp90 inhibitors can be used for therapeutic application in the treatment of cancer and other conditions where the cells depend on hsp90 activity for cell growth or maintenance. Radiolabeled Hsp90 inhibitors of the invention are useful as radiotracers for imaging tumors that express Hsp90.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and B shows the structure of prior art Hsp90 inhibitors 17-AAG and radicicol.

FIGS. 1C and 1D shows the structure of prior art purine-scaffolded Hsp90 inhibitor PU3 and PU24FCl.

FIG. 2 shows a general structure of a purine-scaffold Hsp90 inhibitor.

FIGS. 3A-Q shows the structures of various purine-scaffolded Hsp90 inhibitors in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of an exemplary Hsp90 inhibitor connected to a targeting moiety via a connector.

FIGS. 5A-D shows synthetic schemes for making compositions in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 6A and B compare the effectiveness of PU24FCl and a compound of the invention against various small cell lung cancer cells lines.

FIGS. 7A-D show experimental results for compounds in accordance with the invention, as compared to PU24FCl.

FIG. 8 shows inhibition of cell growth and induction of cell death in SCLC cells highly resistant to conventional chemotherapy using Example 9 in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 9A-D show a comparison of Example 9 in accordance with the invention and prior art compounds for efficacy against small cell lung tumors.

FIGS. 10A and B show pharmacodynamic effects of Compound 6 when administered to MDA-MB bearing mice.

FIGS. 11A and B show enhancement of radiation sensitivity in glioma cells after pretreatment with to Compounds 9 or 8, respectively.

FIG. 12 shows example displacement curves for [¹³¹I]-Compound 9 and [¹³¹I]-Compound 9.

FIG. 13 shows saturation curves [¹³¹I]-Compound 8 and [¹³¹I]-Compound 9.

FIG. 14 shows the ratio of [¹³¹I]-Compound 8 and [¹³¹I]-Compound 9 in tumor and muscle and tumor and blood 4 and 24 hours after administration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Compositions of the Invention

The present application provides small molecule Hsp90 inhibitors that are purine-scaffold derivatives of adenine with the general structure:

wherein Y is C, N or O,

R is hydrogen, a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or an alkoxyalkyl group, optionally including heteroatoms such as N or O, or a targeting moiety connected to N9 via a linker,

X₄ is hydrogen or halogen, for example F or Cl, or Br;

X₃ is CH₂, CF₂, S, SO, SO₂, O, NH, or NR², wherein R² is alkyl; and

X₂ is halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogenated alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, pyrollyl, optionally substituted aryloxy, alkylamino, dialkylamino, carbamyl, amido, alkylamido dialkylamido, acylamino, alkylsulfonylamido, trihalomethoxy, trihalocarbon, thioalkyl, SO₂₋alkyl, COO-alkyl, NH₂, OH, CN, SO₂X₅, NO₂, NO, C═S R₂, NSO₂X_(5′), C═OR₂, where X₅ is F, NH2, alkyl or H, and R₂ is alkyl, NH₂, NH-alkyl or O-alkyl; and

X₁ represents two substituents, which may be the same or different, disposed in the 4′ and 5′ positions on the aryl group, wherein X₁ is selected from halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogenated alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, pyrollyl, optionally substituted aryloxy, alkylamino, dialkylamino, carbamyl, amido, alkylamido dialkylamido, acylamino, alkylsulfonylamido, trihalomethoxy, trihalocarbon, thioalkyl, SO₂₋alkyl, COO-alkyl, NH₂, OH, CN, SO₂X₅, NO₂, NO, C═SR₂ NSO₂X_(5′), C═OR₂, where X₅ is F, NH2, alkyl or H, and R₂ is alkyl, NH₂, NH-alkyl or O-alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkyl or alkoxy; or wherein X₁ has the formula —O—(CH₂)_(n)—O—, wherein n is an integer from 0 to 2, and one of the oxygens is bonded at the 5′-position and the other at the 4′-position of the aryl ring.

The right-side aryl group may be phenyl as shown, or may include one or more heteroatoms. For example, the right-side aryl group may be a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycle such as pyrimidine.

In specific preferred embodiments of the composition of the invention, the right side aryl group X₁has the formula —O—(CH₂)_(n)—O—, wherein n is an integer from 10 to 2, preferably 1 or 2, and one of the oxygens is bonded at the 5′-position of the aryl ring and the other at the 4′ position. In other specific embodiments of the invention, the substituents X₁ comprise alkoxy substituents, for example methoxy or ethoxy, at the 4′ and 5′-positions of the aryl ring.

In specific embodiments of the invention, the substituent X₂ is a halogen.

In specific embodiments of the invention, the linker X₃ is S. In other specific embodiments of the invention, the linker X₃ is CH₂.

In specific embodiments of the invention, R is a pent-4-ynyl substituent. In other specific embodiments of the invention, R contains a heteroatom, for example nitrogen. A preferred R group that increases the solubility of the compound relative to an otherwise identical compound in which R is H or pent-4-ynyl is —(CH₂)_(m)—N—R₁₀R₁₁R₁₂, where m is 2 or 3 and where R₁₀₋₁₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, ethene, ethyne, propyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, ethoxy, cyclopentyl, an alkyl group forming a 3 or 6-membered ring including the N, or a secondary or tertiary amine forming a 6-membered ring with the nitrogen. In specific examples, R₁₀ and R₁₁ are both methyl, or one of R₁₀ and R₁₁ is methyl and the other is ethyne.

FIG. 3A shows exemplary structures in accordance with the present invention. The structures are based on one of two right side aryl substitution patterns in which the 4′ and 5-substituents are either a bridging substituent or dihydroxy/alkoxy. The left side adenine has varying substituents (Cl, F or H) at the 2-position, and choices for the N9 substituent R are listed. FIGS. 3B-Q shows additional options for specific structures in accordance with the invention.

Synthesis of Compositions in Accordance with the Invention

Synthesis of sulfur linker derivatives can be achieved using the procedures as outlined in Scheme 1 (FIG. 5A). Formation of a sulfur link between adenine and the phenyl ring (X3=S) may be obtained either by nucleophilic attack of the arylthiolate anion on 8-bromoadenine (Step a, Scheme 1) or by the copper catalyzed coupling of aryliodides with mercaptoadenine (Step b, Scheme 1). Our developed method for the formation of 8-arylsulfanyl adenine derivatives (5) from 8-mercaptoadenine (3) and aryl iodides (4) uses CuI/neocuproine as catalyst and NaOt-Bu/DMF as the base/solvent combination.^(11c) The reaction occurs in anhydrous DMF at 110° C. under nitrogen to generate the products in good yields. If bromine or chlorine is present on the aryl moiety, the coupling requires milder basic condition and utilizes Na₃PO₄ or K₂CO₃ instead of NaOt-Bu. Although less attractive due to thiophenols' limited commercial availability, stench and tendency to quickly oxidize, coupling of 8-bromoadenine (1) with thiophenols 2 in the presence of a base will also be used. When not commercially available, thiophenols can be generated by a modified Leuckart thiophenol reaction starting from the corresponding aryl amine. In a first step, aryl amines will be converted via the aryl diazonium salt to aryl xanthates which afford thiophenols on reduction with LiAlH4 or on warming with a base solution. The 8-arylsulfanyl adenines 5 obtained in these coupling reactions will be further alkylated at the position 9-N with pent-4-ynyl or the corresponding-bromoalkylalcohols. Their introduction will be carried out using a Mitsunobu type reaction^(13b) between the alcohol and the respective 8-arylsulfanyl adenines 5 in toluene/CH₂Cl₂ to result in the corresponding 9-N-alkyl-8-arylsulfanyl adenines 6. Formation of the 3-N and 7-N isomers is likely to be observed (˜0 to 30%), however, these byproducts will be removed by column chromatography (differences in Rf are considerable). Treatment of 5 with base and an alkylating agent tends to result in higher percentage of 3- and 7-N isomers compared to alcohol treatment under the Mitsunobu conditions. Heating these bromines with amines in DMF will generate the desired products. Phosphate salts will be further made for in vivo administration of selected compounds to improve their water solubility.

Synthesis of methylene linker derivatives can be accomplished using the precoures outlined in Scheme 2 (FIG. 5B). If the linker is methylene (X3=CH₂), synthesis will commence with coupling of the commercially available 2,4,5,6-tetraaminopyrimidine sulfate (9) with the acid fluoride (8) of the corresponding carboxylic acids. We have previously determined this to be the only coupling method that in our hands gives the product in high yields. Acid fluorides are generated by treating the corresponding carboxylic acids with cyanuric fluoride and pyridine in CH₂Cl₂. Following a quick water wash, the resulted acid fluorides are used in the next step without further purification. To make the necessary 2-chloro, bromo or iodo, 4,5-derivatized phenyl acetic acids we have determined optimal reaction conditions. We have identified that treatment of 4,5-derivatized phenyl acetic acids with ICl/AcOH; NBS; or HCl/t-BuOOH gives solely ortho-iodinated; brominated; or chlorinated product, respectively in high yields. The amides resulted from the pyrimidine-acid fluoride couplings will be cyclized by heating in alcoholic NaOMe. Transformation of the C2-amino group to fluorine (X₄=NH₂ to F) will be conducted by diazotization-fluorodediazoniation of the amino derivative in HF/pyridine in the presence of NaNO₂ to yield the corresponding adenine derivatives 10. This reaction gives significantly higher yields over the method using HBF₄/iso-amyl nitrite, likely to be due at least in part to the more anhydrous nature of this solvent system which reduces the proportion of hydrolysis. Further alkylation will be conducted using the reaction sequence mentioned in Scheme 1 to result in derivatives 12.

Several derivatives were prepared by the introduction of fluorine at position C2 of the adenine moiety (Scheme 3, FIG. 5C). We and others^(6,8,9) have previously determined that fluorine in this position in general increased the solubility and/or potency of the resulting purines. For the preparation of such derivatives, synthesis commenced with the condensation of the commercially available 2,4,5,6-tetraaminopyrimidine sulfate (14) with carbon disulfide in a refluxing solution of NaHCO₃ in aqueous EtOH.¹⁷ The resulting 2-amino-8-mercaptoadenine (15) was further coupled with aryl iodides in the presence of NaOt-Bu and CuI in ethylene glycol11b to give 2-amino-8-arylsulfanyl adenines 16. The reaction did not proceed using the method published by He et al^(11c) as 15 did not dissolve in DMF or most organic solvents for that matter. Unsaturated chains at position 9-N were introduced at this stage to result in the 2-amino-9-N-alkyl-8-arylsulfanyl adenines 17. The reaction required the use of K₂CO₃ or Cs₂CO₃ and an alkylating agent in DMF due to the poor solubility of 16 in the Mitsunobu reaction solvent. If further, introduction of chlorine at X₂ on the aryl moiety was desired, compounds 17 were subjected to HCl/t-BuOOH to result preferentially in orto-chlorinated compounds (18). Transformation of the C2-amino group to fluorine (X₄=NH₂ to F) was conducted by diazotization-fluorodediazon-iation of the amino derivative in HF/pyridine in the presence of NaNO₂ ^(6,18) to yield the corresponding 2-fluoro-9-N-alkyl-8-arylsulfanyl adenine derivatives 21. This reaction gave significantly higher yields over the previously published method⁹ using HBF₄/iso-amyl nitrite, likely to be due at least in part to the more anhydrous nature of this solvent system which reduces the proportion of hydrolysis. Synthesis of derivatives containing both an unsaturated chain at 9-N (i.e. pent-4-ynyl) and fluorine at the C₂ position of the adenine moiety (X₄=F) required a different strategy to avoid fluorine addition to the triple bond. Compound 16 was first subjected to introduction of fluorine at C₂ to result in the corresponding 2-fluoro-8-arylsulfanyl adenine 19. Surprisingly, conducting the reaction at room temperature resulted in addition of fluorine at both C2 and C6 of the purine moiety. This problem was averted by lowering the reaction temperature to −40° C. Addition of fluorine at position C₂ significantly increased the solubility of these purines in organic solvents. Thus, further alkylation could be easily conducted using the Mitsunobu reaction in toluene:CH2Cl2 to result in derivatives 20. Introduction of chlorine (X₂=Cl), again with HCl/t-BuOOH led to formation of 21. Alternatively, synthesis of 2-fluoro-9-N-alkyl-8-arylsulfanyl adenines 20 was started with the commercially available 2-fluoroadenine (22) (Scheme 3). This reagent was first 9-N alkylated by Cs₂CO₃/tosylate treatment followed by 8-bromination with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS)19 to result in 2-fluoro-9-N-alkyl-8-bromo adenine 23. Its coupling with thiophenols generated the 2-fluoro-9-N-alkyl-8-arylsulfanyl adenines 20.

Syntheses of 8-arylsulfoxyl adenine derivatives 27 and 8-arylsulfonyl adenine derivatives 28 (Scheme 4, FIG. 5D) were previously reported by Llauger et al.²⁰ Briefly, synthesis started with the preparation of C₆-NH2 triphenylphosphine protected²¹ 9-N-alkyl-8-arylsulfanyl adenine derivatives 24 in a two-step (alkylation-protection) one-pot reaction from the corresponding 8-arylsulfanyl adenines 10 using the Mitsunobu conditions 13b followed by addition of an excess of PPh3 and di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate (DBAD). Oxidation of 24 with OXONE® in the presence of alumina 22 allowed for monitoring the reaction to either sulfoxide (25) or sulfone (26). Deprotection of the C6-NH₂ triphenylphosphine group was conveniently conducted in refluxing AcOH/EtOH²¹ to result in good yields in the corresponding 8-arylsulfoxyl adenine derivatives 27 and 8-arylsulfonyl adenine derivatives 28. The later could be chlorinated at C′₂ (X₂=Cl) by HCl/t-BuOOH treatment to result in derivatives 29.

Using these methods, the, compositions described in this application were prepared. These compositions include various compositions in accordance with the invention, as well as comparative examples.

Biological Testing

Compounds synthesized above were tested in a biochemical assay, and also in cellular assays that probe for cellular fingerprints of Hsp90 inhibition.¹ The biochemical assay tests competitive binding of compounds to recombinant Hsp90α protein and also Hsp90 found in cell specific complexes, and uses a fluorescence polarization method.^(7,23) When using cell lysates instead of recombinant protein, the assay measures binding to average Hsp90 population found in cell specific complexes.⁷ The cellular assays measure two specific biological effects observed upon addition of known Hsp90 inhibitors to cancer cells: (a) degradation of the tyrosine kinase Her224 and (b) mitotic block in Rb-defective cells.²⁵ Overexpression of the receptor tyrosine kinase Her2 in SKBr3 breast cancer cells leads to Akt activation which in turn promotes cell survival. Hsp90 uniquely stabilizes Her2 via interaction with its kinase domain and an Hsp90 inhibitor induces Her2 degradation by disrupting the Her2/Hsp90 association.²⁴ We have previously reported a fast microtiter immunoassay able of quantifying cellular levels of Her2 following drug treatments.²⁶ This assay is used here to differentiate the Her2-degradative potential of the above synthesized purines. Hsp90 inhibitors are also known to cause cells lacking functional RB to progress normally through G1 and arrest in mitosis.²⁵ Thus, another assay used here to test cellular Hsp90 inhibition relies on assessing the anti-mitotic potential of synthesized purines. The assay is a microtiter immunoassay and uses an antibody against a mitotically phosphorylated form of nucleolin to detect cells in mitosis.²⁷ This antibody (Tg-3), originally described as a marker of Alzheimer's disease, is highly specific for mitotic cells, Tg-3 immunofluorescence being >50-fold more intense in mitotic cells than in interphase cells.²⁸ In addition, the cytotoxicity of these agents against SKBr3 breast cancer cells was determined. A selected number of most active purines were also tested for possible toxicity against a normal cell line, renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTEC).⁷

Table 1 shows compounds that were tested for biological activity. These compounds are identified by an example number in the table, and are referred to herein by that Example or Compound number. Table 2 shows results for EC₅₀ Hsp90 α, IC₅₀ for Her2 degradation, and IC₅₀ for growth inhibition in SKBR3 breast cancer cells. All values in Table 2 in μM and represent an average of 3 measurements. As can be seen, the compositions tested all show substantial activity, and in many cases activity at nanomolar concentrations.

Several active derivatives were tested for specificity towards transformed cells (Table 3). Binding affinities of selected compounds for average population Hsp90 complexes found in normal tissues (brain, lung and heart) and in addition, their cytotoxicities against RPTEC normal cells were determined. Compounds were found to bind Hsp90 from normal tissues with 2- to 3-log weaker affinities when compared to Hsp90 from SKBr3 cells. This specificity translated into 5 to 100-fold selectivity (column 10, Table 3) in inhibiting the growth of transformed cells compared to cultured normal epithelial cells (RPTEC tested). No cell death was observed in the purine-scaffold treated RPTEC cells even at the highest tested concentrations. Selectivity was also observed between SKBr3 cells and MRC5 normal lung fibroblasts for compounds 9 and 10.

TABLE 1 Example X1 X2 X3 X4 R 1 —OCH2O— Br S H pent-4-ynyl 2 Cl, Cl Cl S H pent-4-ynyl 3 4-Cl, 5-methoxy Cl S H 2-isopropoxy-ethyl 4 Cl, Cl Cl S H H 5 —OCH₂O— Br S H 3-isopropylamino- propyl 6 —OCH₂O— Br CH₂ F pent-4-ynyl 7 —OCH₂O— Cl CH₂ F pent-4-ynyl 8 —OCH₂O— I CH₂ F 3-isopropylamino- propyl 9 —OCH₂O— I S H 3-isopropylamino- propyl 10 —OCH₂O— I S H pent-4-ynyl 11 —OCH₂O— I CH₂ F pent-4-ynyl 12 4,5-dimethoxy I CH₂ F pent-4-ynyl 13 4,5-dimethoxy Br CH₂ F pent-4-ynyl 14 4,5-dimethoxy Cl CH₂ F pent-4-ynyl 15 —OCH₂O— I CH₂ H 3-isopropylamino- propyl Comp 1 3′,4′,5′- Cl CH₂ F pent-4-ynyl (PU24FCl) trimethoxy Comp 2 3′,4′,5′- Cl S F pent-4-ynyl trimethoxy

TABLE 2 Anti- Example EC₅₀ Hsp90-α (μM) IC₅₀ Her2 (μM) IC₅₀ SKBr3 (μM) mitotic 1  0.03 ± 0.005  0.3 ± 0.05  0.2 ± 0.01 Yes (2exp) 0.0508 ± 0.004 0.365 ± 0.045 0.300 ± 0.05  2  8.5 ± 0.1  58 ± 1.4 48.4 ± 2.5  No 3  5.0 ± 1.1 58.3 ± 2.2  16.1 ± 0.7  No 4 15.4 ± 2.2 47.8 ± 3.2  36.0 ± 0.2  Yes 5 0.0388 ± 0.003 0.205 ± 0.015 0.142 ± 0.022 Yes 6 0.0565 ± 0.002 0.210 ± 0.01  0.215 ± 0.055 Yes 7 0.0772 ± 0.001 0.300 ± 0.015 0.250 ± 0.030 Yes 8 0.0504 ± 0.004 0.080 ± 0.010 0.045 ± 0.006 Yes 9 0.0161 ± 0.001  0.05 ± 0.006  0.05 ± 0.005 Yes 10 0.010.8 ± 0.002  0.100 ± 0.010 0.090 ± 0.002 Yes 11 0.0223 ± 0.002 0.090 ± 0.01  0.090 ± 0.03  Yes 12 >15 >50 >50 No 13 >15 >50 55.0 ± 2.3  No 14  4.6 ± 0.02 30.0 ± 1.0  20.6 ± 6.7  No Comp 2 0.12 ± 0.3 1.3 ± 0.4 1.8 ± 0.2 Yes

TABLE 3 EC₅₀ EC₅₀ EC₅₀ IC₅₀ EC₅₀ Hsp90 Hsp90 Hsp90 Hsp90 Brain/ Lung/ Heart/ IC₅₀ RPTEC/ MRC5 MRC5/ Exam Brain lung heart SKBr3 SKBr3 SKBr3 SKBr3 RPTEC SKBr3 cells SKBr3 1 40.2 ± 25.3 14.7 ± 1.7 65.3 ± 9.9  0.02 ± 0.06 2000  735 3265  4.1 ± 0.9 20.5 6 ND 5.20 ± 0.210 13.30 ± 0.210 .0388 ± 0.003 ND 134 343 ND ND 9 ND 2.40 ± 0.24 6.90 ± 0.15 0.0504 ± 0.004  ND 48 140 ND ND >5 >50 10 ND 2.20 ± 0.40 6.00 ± 0.20 0.0161 ± 0.001  ND 136 370 ND ND 1 20 Comp 2 26.7 ± 7.7  217 ± 50 53.1 ± 20.5 0.09 ± 0.03 298 2400 590 28.1 ± 2.2 15.6

A compound in accordance with the invention having the structure shown in FIG. 3B (Compound 1) and PU24FCl, (Comp 1, FIG. 1D) were tested for activity against 7 different small cell lung cancer cell lines (NCI-H69, NCI-H146, NCI-H209, NCI-H187, NCI-N417, NCI-H510 and NCI-H256) obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, Va.). Both compounds exhibited binding to cellular Hsp90 as determined by homogenous fluorescence polarization. However, the concentration required of the compound of the invention was about 1 order of magnitude less than for PU24FCl. (Table 4) Antiproliferative effects of the two compounds were observed in the SCLC cell lines, and the percentage of apoptotic cells were determined. As shown in FIGS. 6A (PU24FCl) and B (Example 1), both compounds induced apoptosis in each of the SCLC cells lines, but the composition of the invention does so at a lower concentration. Both PU24FCl and its higher potency derivative, Example 1, inhibit the growth and cause significant cytotoxicity against all SCLC cell lines. At concentrations of Hsp90 inhibitors in excess of 4-12 mM and 0.25-1 mM, respectively, 50-100% of the starting cell populations are dead at 72 h or 96 h post-treatment. As shown in Table 4 and FIGS. 6A and B, the 10 to 20-fold difference in binding for the two drugs correlate well with the their anti-proliferative potencies, suggesting that cell death in these cells is a direct result of Hsp90 inhibition.

TABLE 4 IC₅₀ IC₉₀ EC₅₀ IC₅₀ IC₉₀ EC₅₀ IC₅₀ EC₅₀ Comp 1 Comp 1 Comp 1 Examp 1 Examp 1 Exampl 1 Comp 1/Ex 1 Comp 1/Ex 1 NCI- 4.2 ± 0.6  7.4 ± 0.1 0.229 ± 0.04 0.44 ± 0.04 0.83 ± 0.05 0.023 ± 0.02 9.5 9.6 H526 NCI- 3.5 ± 0.3  5.3 ± 0.4 0.592 ± 0.13 0.33 ± 0.03 0.61 ± 0.01 0.038 ± 0.01 10.6 15.4 N417 NCI- 5.8 ± 0.2 10.4 ± 0.2 0.574 ± 0.22 0.27 ± 0.04 0.49 ± 0.02 0.049 ± 0.02 21.5 13.1 H146 NCI- 6.5 ± 0.3 12.5 ± 0.5 ND 0.64 ± 0.02  1.2 ± 0.03 ND 8.3 ND H187 NCI- 9.5 ± 0.5 11.6 ± 0.4 0.347 ± 0.06 0.50 ± 0.05 0.65 ± 0.04 0.021 ± 0.04 19.0 16.0 H209 NCI- 10.7 ± 0.1  13.4 ± 0.6 ND 0.76 ± 0.02 0.90 ± 0.09 ND 14.1 ND H510 NCI-H69 2.5 ± 0.2  4.0 ± 0.1 0.350 ± 0.1  0.17 ± 0.02 0.25 ± 0.03 0.019 ± 0.01 14.7 17.8

FIGS. 3B-E show the structure of four compounds (examples 1, 5, 6 and 7, respectively) in accordance with the invention made using the methods of Schemes 1 and 2. Where the 9N-alkyl chain is pent-4-ynyl, 5 and 10 were directly alkylated with using the Mitsonobu reaction and the corresponding alcohol. FIGS. 7A-D shows test results for these compounds when compared to the prior art compound of FIG. 1D (Comp 1). FIG. 7A shows results when exponentially growing SKBr3 cancer cells were seeded into 96-well plates and incubated in medium containing either of vehicle control (DMSO) or the test compound (four replicate wells per assay condition) at the above indicated concentrations for 72 h at 37° C. The antiproliferative effects of test compounds were evaluated using the CellTiter-Glo® Luminescent Cell Viability Assay kit from Promega Corporation. FIG. 7B shows results when exponentially growing SKBr3 cancer cells were seeded into 96-well plates and incubated in medium containing either of vehicle control (DMSO) or the test compounds (four replicate wells per assay condition) at the above indicated concentrations for 24 h at 37° C. The Her2 degradation potential of PUs was evaluated using our Her2 blot procedure described in PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US04/21297, which is incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 7C shows results when exponentially growing MDA-MB-468 cancer cells were seeded into 96-well plates and incubated in medium containing either of vehicle control (DMSO) or the test compounds (four replicate wells per assay condition) at the above indicated concentrations for 24 h at 37° C. The anti-mitotic potential of compounds was evaluated using our Tg3 blot. The resulted chemiluminescent signal was read with an Analyst AD microplate reader. FIG. 7D shows the apoptotic inducing potential of PUs, which was assessed using caspase-3,7 activation as read-out. MDA-MB-468 cells (plated at 8,000/well) were plated in 96-well plates and treated for 24 h with varying concentration of compounds. For the caspase-3,7 assay, following treatment cells are lysed and permeabilized with our in-house developed buffer (10 mM HEPES pH. 7.5, 2 mM EDTA, 0.1% CHAPS, 0.1 mg/ml PMSF, Complete Protease Inhibitor Mix) to make them accessible to the caspase-3,7 substrate Z-DEVD-R110. This agent becomes highly fluorescent upon cleavage by activated caspase-3,7 and subsequent release of rhodamine, thus the assay is a simple read-mix procedure. The resulted fluorescence signal will be read using the Spectramax Gemini XS (Molecular Devices) (ex.485, em.530). As is apparent from these figures, the four compositions of the invention all produced similar results to one another, but were active at significantly lower concentrations than the comparison compound.

The compounds of FIGS. 3F and 3G (Examples 8 and 9) are water soluble when in the acid addition salt form (solubility >5 mM in PBS) and have low nanomolar potency against cancer cells. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodymanic profiles, as well as the anti-cancer activity of Compound 9 were tested in a model of small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a highly malignant tumor accounting for about 20% of all lung cancers. It is a disease that metastasises early and widely, accounting for the extremely poor prognosis of this tumor. Whereas it often initially responds well to chemotherapy, relapses occur almost without exception, and they are usually resistant to cytotoxic treatment. We have shown that compound of FIG. 3G (Example 9) retains its activity in H69AR, a SCLC cell line resistant to adriamycin as well as in SKI-Chen, a cell line derived at MSKCC from a patient who failed to respond to every conventional therapy. The H69AR line was established from NCI-H69 cells that were grown in the presence of increasing concentrations of adriamycin (doxorubicin) over a total of 14 months. The cell line is cross-resistant to anthracycline analogues including daunomycin, epirubicin, menogaril, and mitoxantrone as well as to acivicin, etoposide, gramicidin D, colchicine, and the Vinca alkaloids, vincristine and vinblastine, and expresses the multidrug resistance protein. Growth over 96 h was assessed. FIG. 8 shows a comparison of results for Compound 9 and PU24FCl. Values below 0% represent cell death of the starting population. As shown, the compound of the invention is effective at a concentration about 20 times lower.

In vivo, Example 9 exhibits the tumor retention profile manifested by our early micromolar compound of FIG. 1D (Comp 1) as shown in FIGS. 9A and B. While Example 9 is rapidly cleared from plasma, with levels undetectable after 6 h post-administration, it is retained in tumors at pharmacologic doses for more than 36 h. Such behavior translates in considerable downregulation for more than 36 h of Hsp90 client proteins driving transformation in this tumor. Proteins involved in growth and survival potential of the tumor, Raf-1 and Akt, are efficiently degraded or inactivated (pAkt) by one administered dose of Example 9. In addition, the agent induces significant apoptosis of the tumor as reflected by an increase in PARP cleavage. (FIG. 9C) This is the first indication of apoptosis induced in vivo by an Hsp90 inhibitor. Concordantly, Example 9 efficiently inhibited the growth of this tumor in a manner comparable to 17AAG without toxicity to the host (FIG. 9D).

Mice xenografted with MDA-MB-468 human breast cancer tumors were treated by intraperitoneal injection with Compound 5 at a dosage levels of 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 mg/kg. The concentration of Compound 5 in the tumor 24 hours after administration was determined. As reflected in FIG. 10A, at all dosage levels a biologically active concentration of 300 nM was observed in the tumor, although it could not be detected in plasma. Compound 5 was further tested for its effects on the pharmacodynamic marker Raf-1 kinase. Hsp90 stabilizes this kinase and maintains it in ready-to-be-activated conformation. Inhibition of Hsp90 leads to disruption of the complex and further ubiquitinylation and degradation of Raf-1 by the proteasome. Thus, Raf-1 degradation in tumors is a functional read-out of Hsp90 inhibition. FIG. 10B shows % control levels of Raf-1 protein in mice to which Compound 5 was administered. As shown, substantial decrease in Raf-1 levels was observed at all dosage levels. In contrast, no change in expression of PI3 kinase, a protein unaffected by Hsp90 inhibitors.

Observation of Selective Activity

Although the change of the linker structure between CH₂ and S did not result in significant change in activity measured in the biological assays described above, this work has allowed the identification of Hsp90 inhibitors that demonstrate selective affinities for certain Hsp90-client protein complexes. Compounds Example 1 and Comp 2 induced Her2 degradation and inhibition of growth in SKBr3 cells, and also exhibited anti-mitotic activity in MDA-MB-468 cells, these events occurring with similar potencies. However, among the moderate affinity binders, derivatives were identified that degrade Her2 with corresponding potencies but do not affect cell cycle distribution in RB-defective cells at similar concentrations. The Hsp90 client protein of whose inactivation by Hsp90 inhibitors is responsible for the block of these cells in mitosis is currently unknown. Due to their selectivity profile, these derivatives may be useful pharmacological tools in dissecting Hsp90-regulated processes.

A study comparing the activity of pairs of compounds differing only in the nature of the linker indicated that in general, compounds with CH₂ as the linker are antimitotic, while compounds with S as the linker are not. Consistent with this observation, caspase 3,7 assays showed that compounds with a CH₂ linker induce apoptosis in Rb defective cells, while the S compound does not, This is indicative of a selective affinity to hsp90 complexes in these cells. Both S and CH₂ compounds may have comparable affinity for hsp90 complexes that regulate cell growth and survival, regardless of Rb-type, while the S compounds are more weakly bound to hsp90 complexes that regulater transition through mitosis in Rb-defective cells. As a result of this selectivity, S compounds are more beneficial in the treatment of diseases/conditions where apoptotis is not desired. This would include neurodegnerative diseases, ischemia, inflammation, HIV and nerve regeneration.

Compositions Coupled to Targeting/Labeling Moieties

The compounds of the invention may be coupled via N9 to a targeting moiety selected to specifically bind to a protein, receptor or marker found on a target population of cells. The targeting moiety may be a hormone, hormone analog, protein receptor- or marker-specific antibody or any other ligand that specifically binds to a target of interest, and is selected on the basis of the identity of the target. Particular targeting moieties bind to steroid receptors, including estrogen and androgen and progesterone receptors, and transmembrane tyrosine kinases, src-related tyrosine kinases, raf kinases and PI-3 kinases. Specific tyrosine kinases include HER-2 receptors and other members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor family, and insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptors. Examples of specific targeting moieties include estrogen, estradiol, progestin, testoterone, tamoxifen and wortmannin. Targeting moieties may also be antibodies which bind specifically to receptors, for example antibodies which bind to Her2 receptors as disclosed in International Patent Publications Nos. WO96/32480, WO96/40789 and WO97/04801, which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary structure of a composition of the invention that includes a targeting moiety connected to the nitrogen at the 9 position of the purine via a connector. The linker may be any generally linear chain which is of sufficient length permit the targeting moiety and the purine scaffold molecule to interact with their particular targets when associated together, or may be a linker adapted for controlled cleavage once targeting has been accomplished. The linker may be a C₄ to C₂₀ hydrocarbon chain, or may include intermediate heteroatoms such as O or N. Commonly, the linker is coupled to N-9 of the purine scaffold using the same synthetic mechanisms for adding substituents to the N-9 position. Terminal functional groups, such as amino or carboxyl groups, on the linker are used to form a bond with reactive sites on the selected targeting moiety.

In lieu of a targeting moiety, the compounds of the invention may include a labeling moiety attached via a connector to the N9 position. Examples of labeling moieties include without limitation biotin. As in the case of a targeting moiety, the connector is not critical in structure, and need only be of sufficient length so that the labeling moiety does not interfere with the interaction of the purine scaffold portion of the molecule with Hsp90.

Use of the Compositions of the Inventions

Because of their ability to bring about the degradation of proteins which are essential to cellular function, and hence to retard growth and/or promote cell death, the hsp90-binding compounds of the invention, with or without a targeting moiety, can be used in the therapeutic treatment of a variety of disease conditions. A suitable therapeutic is one which degrades a kinase or protein that is found in enhanced amounts or is mutated in disease-associated cells, or on which the viability of such cells depends. The general role of HSP90 proteins in maintaining malignancy in most cancer cells points to the importance of this target in the development of anticancer agents. Thus, the therapeutic small molecules of the invention provide a novel modality for the treatment of all cancers that require or are facilitated by an HSP90 protein. For example, the compositions of the invention can be used in the treatment of a variety of forms of cancer, particularly those that overexpress Her2 or mutated or wild type steroid receptors, or that lack functional RB protein. Such cancers may include but are not limited to breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, amyelocytic leukemia, vulvar cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, colon cancer, neuroblastoma and prostate cancer. In addition, the compositions of the invention can be used in the treatment of other diseases by targeting proteins associated with pathogenesis for selective degradation. Examples of such targetable proteins include antigens associated with autoimmune diseases and pathogenic proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The compositions of the invention exhibit the ability to degrade specific kinases and signaling proteins. Furthermore, selectivity for transformed versus normal cells can be observed, as reflected in Table 3. For example, compound example 1 (FIG. 3B) shows very high selectivity for tumor cells as opposed to normal heart, brain or lung tissue. The precise mechanism for this selectivity is not known, although it is believed to arise from a higher affinity for tumor hsp90 as opposed to normal cells hsp90.

The compositions of the invention are administered to subjects, including human patients, in need of treatment, in an amount effective to bring about the desired therapeutic result. A suitable administration route is intravenous administration, which is now commonly employed in chemotherapy. In addition, because the compositions of the inventions are small soluble molecules, they are suitable for oral administration. The ability to use an oral route of administration is particularly desirable where it may be necessary to provide treatment of a frequent, for example a daily schedule. The amount of any given composition to be administered, and the appropriate schedule for administration are determined using toxicity tests and clinical trials of standard design, and will represent the conclusion drawn from a risk benefit analysis. Such analyses are routinely performed by persons skilled in the art, and do not involve undue experimentation.

Due to the higher affinity these agents manifest towards cancer cells and their preferential tumor retention profile, these agents are useful as tumor imaging agents. They may also be used to monitor the response of tumors to Hsp90-targeted therapy. The compounds of FIGS. 3F and G (Examples 8 and 9) were iodinated with ¹³¹I using chloamine T and tributlytin precursors. The radioligands were purified by C18 RP HPLC. The saturation binding of these agents to CWR22-rv1 prostate cancer cells was undertaken. Animal biodistribution studies and MicroPET imaging were also performed in nude mice with CWR22 transplantable tumors using ¹²⁴I-labeled compounds. These studies showed the uptake of the radiolabeled compounds, and the ability to use these compounds in radioimaging to provide an image of a tumor.

Other options for radiolabeling include ¹⁸F which can be used in positron emission tomography (PET). ¹²³I-labeled compounds can be used in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and ¹²⁵I-labeled compounds can be used in surgical gamma probe detection.

The compositions of the invention also have utility to enhance the sensitivity of tumors to other forms of therapy, such as radiation and chemotherapy. This utility can be applied in the context of any type of tumor, but it is particularly relevant in the treatment of gliomas. Given the current therapeutic challenge due to radioresistance and chemoresistance explaining the poor prognosis (median survival of 12 months) in GBM, identification of agents that may both sensitize gliomas to radiation and further act as treatments in inhibiting the growth of these tumors is necessary. Multipathway-targeted therapy using single agents that target multiple pathways, including HDAC and Hsp90 inhibitors hold promise for improved radiation therapy efficacy and, ultimately, improved patient outcome. Because radiotherapy remains a primary treatment modality for gliomas, the ability to enhance glioma cell radiosensitivity should provide a therapeutic advantage. Previous studies using 17AAG and 17DMAG have suggested that Hsp90 is a clinically relevant target for the radiosensitization of a wide variety of tumors (Russell et al, Clinical Cancer Research 9: 3749-3755, 2003; Bull et al, Clinical Cancer Research 10: 8077-8084, 2004). However, whereas in vitro studies have indicated that these Hsp90 inhibitors enhance glioma cell radiosensitivity, 17AAG and 17DMAG do not penetrate the blood brain barrier and thus do not appear applicable to brain tumor therapy.

Compound 9 has been shown to have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier and therefore is suitable for combination with radiotherapy as a novel form of brain tumor treatment. Initial studies based on the clonogenic survival assay indicate that Compound 9 enhances the in vitro radiosensitivity of two human glioma cell lines(U251 and U87) with dose enhancement factors of 1.4-1.6, a degree of radiosensitization similar to that previously shown for 17AAG and 17DMAG. Cells were exposed to 200 nM or 400 nM Compound 8 or 9 for 16 h, irradiated with graded doses of X rays, rinsed and fed with fresh growth media. Colony forming efficiency was determined 10-12 days later and survival curves generated after normalizing for cell killing by Compound 9 alone. The results are summarized in FIG. 11A (Compound 9) and B (Compound 8). The surviving fractions after Compound 9 treatment only were 0.86 and 0.68 for U251 and U87 cells, respectively.

Experimental Section

The following procedures and experiments were performed, and are provided here to further demonstrate the invention.

Hsp90 competition assay. Fluorescence polarization measurements were performed on an Analyst AD instrument (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Measurements were taken in black 96-well microtiter plates (Coming #3650). The assay buffer (HFB) contained 20 mM HEPES (K) pH 7.3, 50 mM KCl, 5 mM MgCl₂, 20 mM Na₂MoO₄, 0.01% NP40. Before each use, 0.1 mg/mL bovine gamma globulin (BGG) (Panvera Corporation, Madison, Wis.) and 2 mM DTT (Fisher Biotech, Fair Lawn, N.J.) were freshly added. GM-BODIPY was synthesized as previously reported^(23a) and was dissolved in DMSO to form 10 μM solutions. Recombinant Hsp90α was purchased from Stressgen Bioreagents (cat. No. SPP-776), (Victoria, Canada). Cell lysates were prepared rupturing cellular membranes by freezing at −70° C. and dissolving the cellular extract in HFB with added protease and phosphotase inhibitors. Organs were harvested from a healthy mouse and homogenized in HFB. Saturation curves were recorded in which GM-BODIPY (5 nM) was treated with increasing amounts of cellular lysates. The amount of lysate that resulted in polarization (mP) readings corresponding to 20 nM recombinant Hsp90α was chosen for the competition study. For the competition studies, each 96-well contained 5 nM fluorescent GM, cellular lysate (amounts as determined above and normalized to total Hsp90 as determined by Western blot analysis using as standard Hsp90 purified from HeLa cells (Stressgen #SPP-770) and tested inhibitor (initial stock in DMSO) in a final volume of 100 μL. The plate was left on a shaker at 4° C. for 7 h and the FP values in mP were recorded. EC₅₀ values were determined as the competitor concentrations at which 50% of the fluorescent GM was displaced.

Cell culture. The human breast cancer cell lines SKBr3 and MDA-MB-468 were a gift from Dr. Neal Rosen (MSKCC). Cells were maintained in 1:1 mixture of DME:F12 supplemented with 2 mM glutamine, 50 units/mL penicillin, 50 units/mL streptomycin and 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum (Gemini Bioproducts #100-10b) and incubated at 37° C., 5% CO₂. Growth assays. Growth inhibition studies were performed using the sulforhodamine B assay as previously described.²⁹ In summary, experimental cultures were plated in microtiter plates (Nunc #167008). One column of wells was left without cells to serve as the blank control. Cells were allowed to attach overnight. The following day, growth medium having either drug or DMSO at twice the desired initial concentration was added to the plate in triplicate and was serially diluted at a 1:1 ratio in the microtiter plate. After 72 h of growth, the cell number in treated versus control wells was estimated after treatment with 50% trichloroacetic acid and staining with 0.4% sulforhodamine B in 1% acetic acid. The IC₅₀ was calculated as the drug concentration that inhibits cell growth by 50% compared with control growth. Normal human renal proximal tubular epithelial (RPTEC) cells were purchased pre-seeded in 96-well plates (Clonetics, CC-3190). Upon receipt, cells were placed in a humidified incubator at 37° C., 5% CO₂ and allowed to equilibrate for 3 h. Media was removed by suction and replaced with fresh media provided by the manufacturer. Cells were then treated with either drugs or DMSO for 72 h and the IC₅₀ values were determined as described above.

Her2 assay. SKBr3 cells were plated in black, clear-bottom microtiter plates (Corning #3603) at 3,000 cells/well in growth medium (100 μl) and allowed to attach for 24 h at 37° C. and 5% CO2. Growth medium (100 μl) with drug or vehicle (DMSO) was carefully added to the wells, and the plates were placed at 37° C. and 5% CO₂. Following 24 h incubation with drugs, wells were washed with ice-cold Tris buffer saline (TBS) containing 0.1% Tween 20 (TBST) (200 μl). A house vacuum source attached to an eight-channel aspirator was used to remove the liquid from the plates. Further, methanol (100 μl at −20° C.) was added to each well, and the plate was placed at 4° C. for 10 min. Methanol was removed by washing with TBST (2×200 μl). After further incubation at RT for 2 h with SuperBlockR (Pierce 37535) (200 μl), anti-Her-2 (c-erbB-2) antibody (Zymed Laboratories #28-004) (100 μl, 1:200 in SuperBlockR) was placed in each well. The plate was incubated overnight at 4° C. For control wells, 1:200 dilution of a normal rabbit IgG (Santa Cruz #SC-2027) in SuperblockR was used. Each well was washed with TBST (2×200 μl) and incubated at RT for 2 h with an anti-rabbit HRP-linked antibody (Sigma, A-0545) (100 μl, 1:2000 in SuperBlockR). Unreacted antibody was removed by washing with TBST (3×200 μl), and the ECLTM Western blotting reagent (Amersham #RPN2106) (100 μL) was added. The plate was immediately read in an Analyst AD plate reader (Molecular Devices). Each well was scanned for 0.1 s. Readings from wells containing only control IgG and the corresponding HRP-linked secondary antibody were set as background and deducted from all measured values.

Luminescence readings resulted from drug-treated cells versus untreated cells (vehicle treated) were quantified and plotted against drug concentration to give the EC₅₀ values as the concentration of drug that caused 50% decrease in luminescence.

Anti-mitotic assay. Black, clear-bottom microtiter 96-well plates (Corning Costar #3603) were used to accommodate experimental cultures. MDA-MB-468 cells were seeded in each well at 8,000 cells per well in growth medium (100 μL), and allowed to attach overnight at 37° C. and 5% CO₂. Growth medium (100 μL) with drug or vehicle (DMSO) was gently added to the wells, and the plates were incubated at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ for 24 h. Wells were washed with ice-cold TBST (2×200 μL). A house vacuum source attached to an eight-channel aspirator was used to remove the liquid from the 96-well plates. Ice-cold methanol (100 μL) was added to each well, and the plate was placed at 4° C. for 5 min. Methanol was removed by suction and plates were washed with ice-cold TBST (2×200 μL). Plates were further incubated with SuperBlock® blocking buffer (Pierce #37535) (200 μL) for 2 h at RT. The Tg-3 antibody (gift of Dr. Davies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine) diluted 1:200 in SuperBlock® was placed in each well (100 μL) except the control column that was treated with control antibody (Mouse IgM, NeoMarkers, NC-1030-P). After 72 h, wells were washed with ice-cold TBST (2×200 μL). The secondary antibody (Goat Anti-Mouse IgM, SouthernBiotech #1020-05) was placed in each well at 1:2000 dilution in SuperBlock®, and incubated on a shaker at RT for 2 h. Un-reacted antibody was removed by washing the plates with ice-cold TBST (3×200 μL) for 5 min on a shaker. The ECLTM Western Blotting Detection Reagents 1 and 2 in 1:1 mix (100 μL) was placed in each well and the plates were read immediately in an Analyst AD plate reader (Molecular Devices). Luminescence readings were imported into SOFTmax PROR 4.3.1. Anti-mitotic activity was defined as a concentration dependent increase in luminescence readings in compound-treated wells as compared to DMSO only treated wells.

General Chemical Procedures. All commercial chemicals and solvents are reagent grade and were used without further purification. The identity and purity of each product was characterized by MS, HPLC, TLC, IR and NMR. ¹H NMR/¹³C NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker 400 MHz instrument. Low-resolution mass spectra (MS) were recorded in the positive ion mode under electron-spray ionization (ESI). High performance liquid chromatography analyses were performed on a Waters 2996 instrument with a photodiode array detector (read at 265 nm) and a reverse-phase column (Higgins; HAISIL HL C18 5 μm) (method (a)) and additionally, a Waters 2695 Separation Module with a Waters 996 photodiode array detector and a Waters micromass ZQ and a reverse-phase column (Varian; Microsorb 100-5 C18 150×2) (methods (b) and (c)). Method (a): 0.1% TFA in water-acetonitrile in the indicated ratio; method (b): 0.05% TFA in water-0.04% TFA in acetonitrile; method (c): 0.05% TFA in water-0.04% TFA in acetonitrile gradient (35% acetonitrile over 18 min, 35-95% acetonitrile over 6 min, 95% acetonitrile over 9 min). Infrared spectra (IR) were obtained on a Perkin-Elmer FT-IR model 1600 spectrometer. Characterization data for previously unknown compounds were determined from a single run with isolated yields. Reactions were monitored by thin-layer chromatography on 0.25-mm silica gel plates and visualized with UV light. Column chromatography was performed using silica gel (Fisher 170-400 mesh) or alumina (Fisher 60-325 mesh). Oxidation reactions with OXONE® were carried out in the presence of the Fisher alumina (A540; 80-200 mesh). Analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was performed on E. Merck precoated silica gel 60 F254. Waters Sep-Pala Vac 6 cc (500 mg) C18 cartridges were used for the purification of compounds 16. All reactions were conducted under inert atmosphere except of those in aqueous media.

3,4,5-Trimethoxy-benzenethiol (6).³⁰ To 3,4,5-trimethoxyaniline (2 g, 10.9 mmol) at 0° C. were added a concentrated solution of HCl (3 mL, 0.27 mL/mmol) and H₂O (7.7 mL) followed by NaNO₂ (932 mg, 13.1 mmol). The resulting solution was poured over potassium ethyl xanthogenate (5.35 g, 32.7 mmol) in H2O (6.2 mL) and stirred at 50° C. for 40 min. The reaction mixture was brought to room temperature, diluted with EtOAc (80 mL) and washed with 10% NaOH, followed by H₂O until the pH reached 7. The organic fraction was dried over Na₂SO₄ and the solvent evaporated under high vacuum. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (CH₂Cl₂) to furnish the xanthogenate intermediate (1.82 g, 58% yield). This was taken up in anhydrous THF (30 mL). To the resulting solution, LiAlH₄(1 g, 25 mmol) was slowly added and the mixture was stirred for 1 h at reflux temperature. Following cooling to room temperature, the reaction was quenched with ice cold water (50 mL) and 10% H₂SO₄ (5 mL) and extracted with CHCl₃. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄ and evaporated to give the desired thiophenol (1.18 g, 93% yield). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 6.53 (s, 2H), 3.84 (s, 6H, OCH3), 3.82 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.46 (s, 1H, SH).

Procedures for the formation of 8-arylsulfanyladenine derivatives: Scheme 1, synthetic step (b). 8-Mercaptoadenine (7) (50.2 mg, 0.30 mmol), neocuproine hydrate (6.8 mg, 0.03 mmol), CuI (5.7 mg, 0.03 mmol), NaO-t-Bu (57.6 mg, 0.6 mmol), the corresponding aryl iodide (0.90 mmol) and anhydrous DMF (2 mL) were charged in a nitrogen box. The reaction vessels were sealed with Teflon tape, placed in an oil bath (110° C.) and magnetically stirred for 24 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled to room temperature and DMF was removed in vacuo. The crude was purified by silica gel flash chromatography eluting with a gradient of CHCl₃:NH₄OH at 10:0.5 to CHCl₃:MeOH:NH₄OH at 10:1:0.5 to afford the desired product.

8-(2,4,5-Trichloro-phenylsulfanyl)adenine. Use K₂CO₃ as base. Yield, 56%. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.12 (s, 1H), 8.00 (s, 1H), 7.60 (s, 1H), 7.37 (s, 2H); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 132.5, 132.3, 132.2, 131.4, 131.2, 130.8; MS m/z 345.9 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 99.9% (65% water—35% acetonitrile); (b) 99.4%.

Scheme 1, synthetic step (d): A mixture of 8-arylsulfanyl adenine 10 (100 μmol), Cs2CO3 (100 μmol), pent-4-ynyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate (120 μmol) in DMF (1.3 mL) under nitrogen protection was heated at 80° C. for 30 min. Following solvent removal, the crude was purified by preparatory TLC with CHCl₃:MeOH:NH4OH at 10:1:0.5 or CHCl₃:MeOH:AcOH at 10:1:0.5 to provide the corresponding 9-alkyl-8-arylsulfanyladenine derivatives 11.

9-(Pent-4-ynyl)-8-(2,4,5-trichloro-phenylsulfanyl)adenine (11u). Yield, 46%. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3/MeOD-d4) δ 8.26 (s, 1H), 7.63 (s, 1H), 7.50 (s, 1H), 4.38-4.35 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 2.32-2.28 (m, 2H), 2.09-2.02 (m, 3H); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3/MeOD-d4) δ 154.4, 152.7, 150.9, 143.8, 134.1, 133.7, 133.4, 131.9, 131.3, 129.4, 81.8, 69.4, 42.9, 28.1, 15.7; MS m/z 411.9 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 98.5% (75% water—25% acetonitrile); (b) 97.1%.

9-(Pent-4-ynyl)-8-(6-bromo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylsulfanyl)adenine. Yield, 48%. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3/MeOD-d4) δ 8.22 (s, 1H), 7.17 (s, 1H), 7.00 (s, 1H), 6.06 (s, 2H), 4.35-4.31 (t, J=7.26 Hz, 2H), 4.12 (s, 2H), 2.33-2.30 (m, 2H), 2.08-2.05 (m, 3H). ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3/MeODd4) δ 150.9, 149.7, 148.0, 146.9, 121.3, 119.1, 113.8, 113.4, 102.4, 81.9, 69.3, 42.7, 28.0, 15.6; MS m/z 432.0 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 98.7% (75% water—25% acetonitrile); (b) 98.9%.

9-(2-Isopropoxy-ethyl)-8-(2,4-dichloro-5-methoxy-benzenesulfanyl)adenine. Following the general method for the preparation of 12d, 11e3 afforded 12c. Yield, 53%. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.36 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.44 (s, 1H), 7.09 (s, 1H), 5.55 (bs, 2H, NH2), 4.48 (t, J=5.6 Hz, 2H, NCH2), 3.81 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.74 (t, J=5.6 Hz, 2H), 3.49 (d, J=6.1 Hz, 1H, CH), 1.04 (d, J=6.1 Hz, 6H, CH3); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 154.1 (C-2), 153, 147, 131.0, 130.2, 126.9, 123.6, 116.0, 72.3 (CH), 65.6, 56.5 (OCH3), 44.1 (NCH2), 21.8 (CH2); MS (EIS) m/z 428.0 (M+1)+. HPLC: (a) 90.2% (70% water—30% acetonitrile); (c) 91.0%.

Method for the fluorination of the adenine moiety at C2: 2-Fluoro-9-butyl-8-(2-chloro-3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenylsulfanyl)adenine (21c). To a cooled solution (0° C.) of 18c (11.3 mg, 0.02 mmol) in HF/pyridine (18 μL, 0.7 mL/mmol) NaNO2 (2.2 mg, 0.03 mmol) was slowly added. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h and then quenched by stirring for 1 h with 14 mg of CaCO3 in CH2Cl2 (75 μL). The crude was taken up in CH2Cl2, washed with water and dried over anhydrous Na2SO4. Following solvent removal, the residue was purified on a preparative silica gel plate (CHCl3:Hexanes:EtOAc:i-PrOH at 2:2:1:0.1) to afford 21c (1.9 mg, 17% yield). IR (film) ν_(max) 3318-2953, 1657, 1604, 1583, 1479, 1385, 1111, 1015; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 6.72 (s, 1H), 5.83 (bs, 2H, NH2), 4.18 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H, NCH2), 3.92 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.89 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.74 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.72 (m, 2H), 1.32 (m, 2H), 0.92 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H, CH3); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 160.1, 158.0, 156.1, 152.5, 150.8, 143.9, 124.6, 111.2, 61.2 and 56.3 (OCH3), 43.9 (NCH2), 31.7, 29.7, 19.7 (CH3); MS (EIS) m/z 442.2 (M+1)+. HPLC: (a) 95.9% (60% water—40% acetonitrile); (c) 98.0%.

8-(6-Bromo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylsulfanyl)adenine. 8-Mercaptoadenine (602 mg, 3.6 mmol), neocuproine hydrate (81 mg, 0.36 mmol), CuI (69 mg, 0.36 mmol), NaO-t-Bu (692 mg, 7.2 mmol), 5-bromo-6-iodo-benzo[1,3]dioxole (3.53 g, 10.8 mmol) and anhydrous DMF (24 mL) were charged in a nitrogen box. The vessel was sealed with Teflon tape, placed in an oil bath (110° C.) and magnetically stirred for 24 h. The solvent was removed under high vacuum and the crude purified by column chromatography on silica gel (EtOAc:CH2Cl2:MeOH at 2:2:1) to provide the product (1.29 g, 97%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, acetone-d6) 8.07 (s, 1H), 7.28 (s, 1H), 7.15 (s, 1H), 7.08 (bs, 2H), 6.13 (s, 2H); MS m/z 366.0 (M+H)+.

8-(6-Iodo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylsulfanyl)-9-(pent-4-ynyl)adenine: A solution of 7 (40 mg, 96.8 mol), Cs2CO3 (31.5 mg, 96.8 mol) and pent-4-ynyl tosylate (28 mg, 114 mol) in anhydrous DMF (1 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 30 min. The solvent was removed under high vacuum and the crude purified by preparatory thin layer chromatography to give the desired product (25 mg, 53.9%): 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3/methanol-d4) 8.23 (s, 1H), 7.38 (s, 1H), 7.04 (s, 1H), 6.05 (s, 2H), 4.32 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 2.33-2.31 (m, 2H), 2.12-2.04 (m, 3H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3/methanol-d4) 151.1, 149.6, 149.2, 147.5, 125.7, 119.4, 113.6, 102.4, 93.8, 82.1, 69.4, 42.8, 28.1, 15.8; MS m/z 480.0 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 98.5% (65% water—35% acetonitrile); (b) 97.7% (35% to 95% acetonitrile).

3-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl-isopropyl-amino)-propyl tosylate: A solution of 3-bromo-1-propanol (5 g, 0.036 mol) in isopropylamine (9 mL, 0.11 mol) was heated overnight at 50° C. with stirring. Solvent was removed under vacuum to give the product, 3-isopropyl-amino-propanol as a white solid. To this were added di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (10 g, 0.05 mol) and triethylamine (11 mL, 0.08 mol) and the resulting solution stirred at room temperature overnight. Following solvent removal, the crude was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, then CH2Cl2:acetone at 3:1) to provide the 3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl-isopropyl-amino)-propanol (5.8 g, 75%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 3.93 (bs, 1H), 3.58 (m, 2H), 3.33 (m, 2H), 1.67 (m, 2H), 1.48 (s, 9H), 1.16 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 6H); MS m/z 218.1 (M+H)+. A solution of 3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl-isopropyl-amino)-propanol (3.5 g, 0.016 mol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (3.7 g, 0.019 mol) and pyridine (1.6 mL, 0.019 mol) in CH2Cl2 (50 mL) was stirred overnight at room temparature. Following solvent removal, the product (2.3 g, 40%) was isolated by column chromatography on silica gel (hexanes:CH2Cl2:EtOAc at 5:4:1). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 7.79 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 2H,), 7.35 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 2H,), 4.06-4.03 (m, 3H), 3.09 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 2.45 (s, 3H), 1.91-1.87 (m, 2H), 1.42 (s, 9H), 1.08 (d, J=6.7 Hz, 6H); MS m/z 372.2 (M+H)+.

8-(6-Iodo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylsulfanyl)-9-(3-isopropylamino-propyl)adenine: A solution of 7 (125 mg, 303 mol), 3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl-isopropyl-amino)-propyl tosylate (269 mg, 726 mol), Cs2CO3 (99 mg, 303 mol) in anhydrous DMF (2 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 24 h. The solvent was removed under vacuum and the crude purified by preparatory thin layer chromatography on silica gel (CHCl3:MeOH:NH4OH at 10:1:0.5) to afford the 9N-alkylated compound. This was placed in TFA (1 mL) at 0° C. for 1.5 h to remove the Boc protecting group and yield 11 (30 mg, 19.3% yield): 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 8.31 (s, 1H), 7.29 (s, 1H), 6.88 (s, 1H), 6.10 (bs, 2H), 5.96 (s, 2H), 4.29 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 2.75-2.69 (m, 1H), 2.58 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 2.02-1.95 (m, 2H), 1.03 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 6H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) 154.6, 152.9, 151.6, 149.2, 148.9, 146.2, 127.9, 120.1, 119.2, 112.2, 102.2, 91.1, 48.7, 43.9, 41.7, 30.3, 22.9; MS m/z 513.2 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 98.9% (65% water—35% acetonitrile); (b) 95.0% (20% to 40% acetonitrile).

8-(6-Bromo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylsulfanyl)-9-(3-isopropylamino-propyl)adenine: A solution of 8-(6-Bromo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylsulfanyl)adenine (513 mg, 1.4 mmol), PPh3 (808 mg, 3.08 mmol), 3-bromo-1-propanol (253 mg, 165 L, 1.82 mmol), DBAD (1612 mg, 7 mmol) in toluene (43.8 mL) and CH2Cl2 (8.75, mL) was stirred at room temperature for 20 min. The reaction mixture was loaded to a silica gel column (CHCl₃ then CHCl₃:EtOAc:hexanes: i-Propanol at 4:4:2:1) to provide the 9N-alkylated compound, 8-(6-bromo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylsulfanyl)-9-(3-bromo-propyl)adenine) (142.6 mg, 21% yield). A solution of this product (142.6 mg, 0.29 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (12 mL) and i-propylamine (3 mL) was stirred at 100° C. for 2.5 h. The solvent was removed under vacuum and the crude purified by preparatory thin layer chromatography on silica gel (CHCl3:MeOH:NH4OH at 10:1:0.5 then EtOAc:CH2Cl2:MeOH at 2:2:1) to afford 12 (51 mg, 8% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 8.30 (s, 1H), 7.04 (s, 1H), 6.81(s, 1H), 6.48 (bs, 2H), 5.94 (s, 2H), 4.29 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 2H,), 2.74-2.68 (m, 1H), 2.57 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 2H,), 2.02-1.95 (m, 2H), 1.02 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 6H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) 154.8, 152.9, 151.5, 148.8, 148.0, 145.2, 123.8, 120.0, 116.7, 113.2, 112.2, 102.3, 48.6, 43.8, 41.7, 30.2, 22.8; MS m/z 465.0 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 99.1% (65% water—35% acetonitrile); (b) 98.0% (20% to 40% acetonitrile).

8-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl-2-fluoroadenine: To a cooled (0° C.) solution of 16 (1.48 g, 5.2 mmol) in HF/pyridine (3.64 mL), NaNO2 (0.47 g, 6.76 mmol) was slowly added. The reaction was brought to room temperature, and further stirred for 1 h. Following dilution with CH₂Cl₂ (38 mL), the excess HF was quenched by stirring for an additional 1 h with CaCO3 (0.95 g) and water (5 mL). The mixture was dried in vacuo and subsequently purified by silica gel column chromatography (CHCl3:MeOH:NH4OH at 5:1:0.5) to yield 17 (0.9 g, 60% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) 7.59 (bs, 2H), 6.94-6.90 (m, 3H), 6.81 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.03 (s, 2H), 4.06 (s, 2H); MS m/z 288.0 (M+H)+.

2-Fluoro-8-(6-iodo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)adenine: A solution of 8-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl-2-fluoroadenine (50 mg, 0.17 mmol), NIS (94 mg, 0.4 mmol), TFA (20 mg, 13.4 L, 0.17 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (200 L) was stirred at room temperature overnight. After solvent removal, the desired product 18 (6 mg, 8.5%) was purified by silica gel column chromatography (CHCl3:EtOAc at 9:1 to 4:6). 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) 7.6 (bs, 2H), 7.38 (s, 1H), 6.95 (s, 1H), 6.03 (s, 2H), 4.12 (s, 2H); MS m/z 414.1 (M+H)+.

2-Fluoro-8-(6-bromo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)adenine: A solution of 8-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl-2-fluoroadenine (45 mg, 0.157 mmol), NBS (56 mg, 0.314 mmol) in DMF (0.5 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 h. Following solvent removal, product (20 mg, 34.8%) was collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3:EtOAc at 9:1 to 4:6). 1H NMR (400 MHz, acetone-d6) 7.51 (bs, 2H), 7.21 (s, 1H), 6.98 (s, 1H), 6.06 (s, 2H), 4.13 (s, 2H); MS m/z 366.0 (M+H)+.

2-Fluoro-8-(6-chloro-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)adenine: A solution of 8-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl-2-fluoroadenine (20 mg, 0.07 mmol), NCS (35.6 mg, 0.27 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (0.4 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2.5 h. Following solvent removal, the product (11 mg, 48.8%) was collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3:EtOAc at 9:1 to 5:5). 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) 7.40 (bs, 2H), 6.97 (s, 1H), 6.89 (s, 2H), 5.97 (s, 2H), 4.04 (s, 2H); MS m/z 322.1 (M+H)+.

2-Fluoro-8-(6-iodo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)-9-(pent-4-ynyl)adenine: A solution of 2-Fluoro-8-(6-iodo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyeadenine (6 mg, 0.0145 mmol), Cs2CO3 (5 mg, 0.0145 mmol) and pent-4-ynyl tosylate (4.5 mg, 0.189 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (200 L) was stirred at 60° C. for 1.5 h. Following solvent removal, product (5.9 mg, 84.9%) was collected through silica gel column purification (EtOAc:hexanes:CHCl3:i-PrOH at 10:20:20:1). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 7.29 (s, 1H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 5.94 (s, 2H), 5.83 (bs, 2H), 4.26 (s, 2H), 4.11 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 2.26-2.19 (m, 2H), 2.00 (t, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 1.98-1.94 (m, 2H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) 150.9, 148.9, 147.8, 131.5, 118.8, 109.4, 101.9, 88.1, 82.3, 69.9, 42.3, 39.2, 28.2, 15.9; MS m/z 480.0 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 95.5% (60% water—40% acetonitrile); (b) 95.0% (35% to 55% acetonitrile).

2-Fluoro-8-(6-bromo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)-9-(pent-4-ynyl)adenine: A solution of 2-Fluoro-8-(6-bromo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)adenine (20 mg, 55 mol), Cs2CO3 (18 mg, 55 mol) and pent-4-ynyl tosylate (17 mg, 72 mol) in anhydrous DMF (138 L) was stirred at 60° C. for 2 h. Following solvent removal, the product (13 mg, 54.7%) was collected through silica gel column purification (EtOAc:hexanes:CHCl3:i-PrOH at 10:20:20:1). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 7.05 (s, 1H), 6.60 (s, 1H), 6.15 (bs, 2H), 5.96 (s, 2H), 4.28 (s, 2H), 4.13 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 2.25-2.21 (m, 2H), 2.00 (t, J=2.6 Hz, 1H), 1.98-1.92 (m, 2H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) 157.6, 156.0, 152.6, 150.2, 147.5, 127.6, 116.4, 114.1, 112.5, 109.5, 101.6, 81.9, 69.5, 41.9, 33.7, 27.8, 15.5; MS m/z 432.0 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 99.0% (60% water—40% acetonitrile); (b) 98.5% (35% to 55% acetonitrile).

2-Fluoro-8-(6-chloro-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)-9-(pent-4-ynyl)adenine: A solution of 2-Fluoro-8-(6-chloro-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)adenine (11 mg, 0.034 mmol), Cs2CO3 (11 mg, 0.034 mmol) and pent-4-ynyl tosylate (10.5 mg, 0.044 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (85 L) was stirred at 50° C. for 1 h. Following solvent removal, the product (4.2 mg, 31.9%) was collected through silica gel column purification (EtOAc:hexanes:CHCl3:i-PrOH at 10:20:20:1). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 6.89 (s, 1H), 6.61 (s, 1H), 5.98 (bs, 2H), 5.96 (s, 2H), 4.27 (s, 2H), 4.13 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 2.24-2.10 (m, 2H), 2.00-1.91 (m, 3H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) 1597, 158.0, 156.3, 150.6, 147.7, 147.2, 126.2, 125.3, 110.0, 102.0, 82.3, 69.9, 42.2, 31.4, 28.1, 15.8; MS m/z 388.1 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 98.1% (65% water—35% acetonitrile); (b) 97.0% (35% to 45% acetonitrile).

2-Fluoro-8-(6-iodo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)-9-(3-isopropylamino-propyl) adenine: A solution of 2-Fluoro-8-(6-iodo-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)adenine (300 mg, 0.726 mmol), Cs2CO3 (285 mg, 0.87 mmol) and 1,3-dibromopropane (370 L, 3.63 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (5 mL) was stirred at 50° C. for 2 h. Following solvent removal, product (330 mg, 85%) was collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3 then EtOAc:hexanes:CHCl3:i-PrOH at 4:2:4:0.4). MS m/z 534.0 (M+H)+. To this product, i-PrNH2 (10 mL) was added in excess and the resulting solution stirred at room temperature for 1 h. Excess amine was removed and product (230 mg, 75%) collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3:EtOAc:i-PrOH:NH4OH at 4:4:2:0.3). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 7.29 (s, 1H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 5.94 (s, 2H), 5.89 (bs, 2H), 4.25 (s, 2H), 4.11 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 2.73-2.60 (m, 1H), 2.55 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 1.93-1.86 (m, 2H), 1.03-1.02 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 6H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, methanol-d4) 160.0, 158.4, 157.2, 152.4, 151.3, 149.4, 148.4, 133.1, 118.7, 110.6, 102.4, 88.5, 42.8, 40.1, 38.8, 27.6, 19.4; MS m/z 513.2 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 98.5% (60% water—40% acetonitrile); (b) 97.2% (20% to 50% acetonitrile).

2-Fluoro-8-(3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)adenine: Starting from 2-amino-8-(3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl) adenine (0.66 g, 2.2 mmol) and following the procedure for the synthesis of 17, the desired product was obtained (0.34 g, 51%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) 7.61 (bs, 2H), 7.03 (s, 1H), 6.94 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 6.84 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 4.07 (s, 2H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 3.77 (s, 3H); MS m/z 304.0 (M+H)+.

2-Fluoro-8-(2-iodo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl)adenine: A solution of 2-Fluoro-8-(3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)adenine (50 mg, 0.165 mmol), NIS (74 mg, 0.33 mmol), TFA (18.8 mg, 12.7 L, 0.165 mmol) in acetonitrile (120 L) was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. Following solvent removal, the product (12 mg, 16.9%) was collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3:MeOH:AcOH at 80:1:0.5 to 30:1:0.5). MS m/z 430.1 (M+H)+.

2-Fluoro-8-(2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl)adenine (29): A solution of 27 (65 mg, 0.226 mmol), NBS (80 mg, 0.45 mmol) in DMF (0.75 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2.5 h. Following solvent removal, the product (8.2 mg, 53.6%) was collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3:MeOH:AcOH at 80:1:0.5 to 30:1:0.5). 1H NMR (400 MHz, aceton-d6) 7.13 (s, 1H), 7.09 (s, 1H), 6.80 (bs, 2H), 4.26 (s, 2H), 3.84 (s, 3H), 3.78 (s, 3H); MS m/z 382.0 (M+H)+.

2-Fluoro-8-(2-chloro-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl)adenine: A solution of 2-Fluoro-8-(3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)adenine (40 mg, 0.132 mmol), NCS (77.8 mg, 0.58 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (0.7 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 5.5 h. Following solvent removal, the product (22 mg, 49.4%) was collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3:EtOAc at 8:2 to 4:6). MS m/z 338.0 (M+H)+.

2-Fluoro-8-(2-iodo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl)-9-(pent-4-ynyl)adenine: A solution of 2-fluoro-8-(2-iodo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl)adenine (12 mg, 0.028 mmol), Cs2CO3 (9 mg, 0.028 mmol), pent-4-ynyl tosylate (8.6 mg, 7 L, 0.036 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (80 L) was stirred at 50° C. for 1 h. Following solvent removal, the product (13.7 mg, 99%) was collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3:EtOAc:hexanes:i-PrOH at 20:10:20:1). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 7.27 (s, 1H), 6.65 (s, 1H), 5.94 (bs, 2H), 4.29 (s, 2H), 4.13 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 3.87 (s, 3H), 3.73 (s, 3H), 2.26-2.22 (m, 2H), 2.00 (t, J=2.6 Hz, 1H), 1.97-1.90 (m, 2H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) 156.5, 153.2, 151.3, 150.0, 149.1, 130.9, 121.9, 112.6, 88.5, 82.5, 70.0, 56.4, 56.2, 42.6, 39.2, 28.4, 16.1; MS m/z 496.2 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 99.9% (60% water—40% acetonitrile); (b) 96.8% (35% to 55% acetonitrile).

2-Fluoro-8-(2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl)-9-(pent-4-ynyl)adenine: A solution of 8-(2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl)-2-fluoroadenine (13 mg, 0.034 mmol), Cs2CO3 (11 mg, 0.034 mmol), pent-4-ynyl tosylate (10 mg, 9 L, 0.044 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (80 L) was stirred at 60° C. for 30 min. Following solvent removal, the product (8.2 mg, 53.6%) was collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3:EtOAc:hexanes:i-PrOH at 20:10:20:1). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 7.06 (s, 1H), 6.67 (s, 1H), 5.92 (bs, 2H), 4.31 (s, 2H), 4.14 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 2.25-2.20 (m, 2H), 1.99 (t, J=2.6 Hz, 1H), 1.96-1.89 (m, 2H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) 160.0, 158.3, 156.7, 153.4, 151.3, 149.4, 127.2, 117.3, 115.9, 114.5, 113.2, 82.7, 70.2, 56.62, 56.56, 42.7, 34.3, 30.1, 28.5, 16.3; MS m/z 447.9 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 99.0% (60% water—40% acetonitrile); (b) 98.8% (35% to 55% acetonitrile).

2-Fluoro-8-(2-chloro-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl)-9-(pent-4-ynyl)adenine: A solution of 8-(2-chloro-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl)-2-fluoroadenine (22 mg, 0.065 mmol), Cs2CO3 (21 mg, 0.065 mmol), pent-4-ynyl tosylate (20 mg, 17.3 L, 0.085 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (170 L) was stirred at 50° C. for 2 h. Following solvent removal, the product (14 mg, 53.8%) was collected through silica gel column purification (CHCl3:EtOAc:hexanes:i-PrOH at 20:10:20:1). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 6.91 (s, 1H), 6.67 (s, 1H), 6.01 (bs, 2H), 4.31 (s, 2H), 4.14 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 3.87 (s, 3H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 2.24-2.20 (m, 2H), 2.01-1.99 (m, 1H), 1.97-1.88 (m, 2H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) 1596, 157.9, 156.3, 152.3, 148.9, 146.0, 124.9, 112.7, 82.3, 69.9, 56.3, 56.2, 42.2, 31.2, 28.1, 15.9; MS m/z 404.1 (M+H)+. HPLC: (a) 95.1% (65% water—35% acetonitrile); (b) 96.7% (35% to 45% acetonitrile).

Radiolabeling of Examples 8 and 9

Ten microliters of [¹³¹I]-NaI (3 mCi) in 0.1M NaOH is added to a 0.3 mL ReactiVial followed by 5 μL of a 5 μg/μL methanol solution of 2-fluoro-9-[3-(N-N-tert-butoxycarboxy-2-propylamino) propyl]-8-(4-trimethylstannyl-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)methyl adenine followed by 10 μL of Chloramine-T (CAT) in acetic acid (0.5 mg/mL). The reaction mixture is vortexed and kept at 50° C. for 5 minutes. 10 μL 6M HCl is added, the reaction mixture is vortexed and kept at 50° C. for 15 minutes. 6 μL 10M NaOH is added, the reaction mixture is vortexed and injected into a HPLC (Phenomenex Luna C18 column (5 μm, 4.4×250 mm). Both columns were eluted at 1 mL/min with a solvent gradient of 0.1% TFA to 0.1% TFA/70% acetonitrile over 15 minutes. The PU-DZ8 fraction is collected, dried at 50° C. by a stream of nitrogen, reconstituted in saline and sterile filtered to yield ˜90% radiochemical yield of [¹³¹I]-Compound 8. [¹²⁴I]-Compound 8 and [¹³¹I]-Compound 9 are produced in an analogous manner.

Binding Studies

CWR22-rv1 prostate cancer cells are grown in RMPI 1640 media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. The cells are removed from the flasks using trypsin and propagated with a 1:6 subculture ratio.

Displacement Binding Studies

Displacement studies are performed with [¹³¹I]-Compound 8 and CWR22-rv1 prostate cancer cells. Briefly, triplicate samples of cells are mixed with <1 nM of radioligand and increasing amounts of a cold competitor (1 pM to 1 μM Compound 8 or 9). The solutions are shaken on an orbital shaker and after 60 minutes the cells are isolated and washed with ice cold Tris buffered saline using a Brandel cell harvester. All the isolated cell samples are counted and the specific uptake of [¹³¹I]-Compound 8 determined. These data are plotted against the concentration of the cold competitor to give sigmoidal displacement curves. The IC₅₀ values are determined using a one site model and a least squares curve fitting routine. The displacement binding of [¹³¹I]-Compound 8 is determined in an analogous manner. FIG. 11 shows example displacement curves for and [¹³¹I]-Compound 8 and [¹³¹I]-Compound 9.

Saturation Binding Studies

Saturation studies are performed with [¹³¹I]-Compound 8 and CWR22-rv1 prostate cancer cells. Briefly, triplicate samples of cells are mixed with increasing amount of 131I-DZ8 either with or without 1 μM unlabeled Compound 9. The solutions are shaken on an orbital shaker and after 60 minutes the cells are isolated and washed with ice cold Tris buffered saline using a Brandel cell harvester. All the isolated cell samples are counted and the specific uptake of ¹³¹I-Compound 8 determined. These data are plotted against the concentration of ¹³¹I-Compound to give a saturation binding curve. The Bmax (maximal binding) and Kd (binding affinity) are determined by using a least squares curve fitting routine. The saturation binding of [¹³¹I]-Compound 9 is determined in an analogous manner. FIG. 12 shows example saturation curves for [¹³¹I]-Compound 8 and [¹³¹I]-Compound 9.

Animal Studies

[¹³¹I]-Compound 8 and [¹³¹I]-Compound 9 biodistribution was studied in an animal model of prostate cancer. CWR22 tumors are grown in athymic mice supplemented with a testosterone pellet (12.5 mg pellet, Innovative Research of America, Sarasota, Fla.). Once the tumors are 500 mg in size the pellet is removed and the mice castrated.

Two groups of eight mice were injected at 3 days post castration, with 10 μCi of [131I]-Compound 8 or [¹³¹I]-Compound 9. These mice were sacrificed at either 4 or 24 hours post injection and the organs of interest removed, weighed and counted in a gamma counter with a standard of 10% of the [¹³¹I]-Compound 8 injected dose. The data were then expressed as a % of the injected dose per gram of tissue (% ID/g). FIG. 13 shows the tumor/non-tumor uptake ratios for selected organs. As shown, there is a substantial excess of accumulation of the radiolabeled compound in tumor as compared to both muscle and blood, and this ratio increases over time.

In a second study, 14 mice were injected with [¹³¹I]-Compound 9 with increasing amounts of unlabeled Compound 9. The mice were sacrificed at 4 h p.i. and tissue analyzed as described above. While the addition of 2 or 18 nanomoles of unlabeled Compound 9 decreased the amount of captured label to some extent, it did not alter the tissue distribution to any significant extent.

In a third study a single mouse was injected with [¹²⁴I]-Compound 8 and imaged with a microPET at around 3 and 17 hours post injection. The area of the tumor was plainly visible in the images obtained, along with residual activity in the large intestine. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A compound of the formula:

or a salt thereof, wherein the right side aryl ring optionally comprises one or more heteroatoms which are N or O, R is an amino alkyl moiety, optionally substituted on the amino nitrogen with one or two carbon-containing substituents selected independently from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl substituents, wherein the total number of carbons in the amino alkyl moiety is from 1 to 9; X₄ is hydrogen or halogen, wherein the halogen is F or Cl, or Br; X₃ is CH₂, CF₂, S, SO, SO₂, O, NH, or NR², wherein R² is alkyl; and X₂ is halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogenated alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, pyrollyl, optionally substituted aryloxy, alkylamino, dialkylamino, carbamyl, alkylamido, dialkylamido, acylamino, alkylsulfonylamido, trihalomethoxy, trihalocarbon, thioalkyl, SO₂-alkyl, COO-alkyl, NH₂, OH, or CN; X₁ has the formula —O—(CH₂)_(n)—O—, wherein n is 1 or 2, and one of the oxygens is bonded at the 5′-position of the aryl ring and the other at the 4′-position of the aryl ring; and the compound comprises a radiolabeled atom.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein R is an amino alkyl moiety, optionally substituted on the amino nitrogen with alkyl substituent, wherein the total number of carbons in the amino alkyl moiety is from 1 to
 9. 3. The compound of claim 2, wherein the n of the formula —O—(CH₂)_(n)—O— is
 1. 4. The compound of claim 3, wherein the substituent X₂ is F.
 5. The compound of claim 4, wherein the linker X₃ is S.
 6. The compound of claim 5, wherein X₄ is hydrogen.
 7. The compound of claim 1, wherein the radiolabeled atom is ¹⁸ F in position X₂ or X_(4.)
 8. The compound of claim 2, wherein the radiolabeled atom is ¹⁸F in position X₂ or X_(4.)
 9. The compound of claim 3, wherein the radiolabeled atom is ¹⁸F in position X₂ or X_(4.)
 10. The compound of claim 4, wherein the radiolabeled atom is ¹⁸F in position X₂ or X_(4.)
 11. The compound of claim 5, wherein the radiolabeled atom is ¹⁸F in position X₂ or X_(4.)
 12. The compound of claim 6, wherein the radiolabeled atom is ¹⁸F in position X_(2.)
 13. The compound of claim 5, wherein the radiolabeled atom is ¹⁸F in position X₄. 